COVID-19 Prevention & Response Plan

Communications

June 29, 2021

Dear Reed students, faculty, and staff,

Last Friday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced that all state COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted by tomorrow, Wednesday, June 30, or once 70% of individuals 18 or older receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, whichever is sooner. Currently, 69.4% of the eligible population (18 or older) in Oregon have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Since this announcement, the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group has been evaluating how the lifting of restrictions will impact college operations. Below, we have outlined the changes that will be made to the college’s COVID-19 protocols on campus, effective Wednesday, June 30.

Face coverings and physical distancing:

  • Individuals are no longer required to wear face coverings or maintain physical distancing on campus in indoor or outdoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. Some exceptions to this apply, including in the Health & Counseling Center or at the COVID-19 testing site. Signs will be posted at the entrances of spaces where masks and distancing are still required.
  • While no longer required, we strongly recommend that vaccinated community members follow the CDC’s guidance for vaccinated people and that all unvaccinated community members follow the CDC's guidance for unvaccinated people.
  • All individuals are welcome and encouraged to continue wearing a face covering if they are more comfortable doing so.

In-person gatherings, meetings, events, and classroom capacity limitations:

  • There are no longer capacity limitations for in-person gatherings, meetings, events, or classes; however, the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group must approve all in-person activity of 300 people or more.
  • For in-person events under 300 people, we will resume our pre-pandemic approval process. Conference & events planning (CEP) and the office of student engagement will continue to work with event planners to identify the most appropriate space for events and may still apply event-specific COVID-19 restrictions in situations where events are particularly large or involve extensive close contact.

Surveillance testing:

  • Individuals who have submitted documentation of full vaccination against COVID-19 with a WHO-approved vaccine to HR (faculty/staff) or the HCC (students) are no longer required to complete weekly surveillance testing.
  • Individuals who have not submitted vaccination records to the appropriate office are still required to test once during each week in which they will be on campus.
  • Surveillance testing hours of operation will be modified. Starting Tuesday, July 6, surveillance testing will be available twice weekly, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the first day each week, and from noon to 2 p.m. on the second day each week. A full list of testing dates and times can be found on the COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan website.

Daily Health Check:

  • Faculty and staff are no longer required to complete the Daily Health Check before coming to campus.
  • All students should continue to complete the Daily Health Check each day before coming to campus or leaving their residence hall room.
  • Vendors and contractors should continue to complete the Vendor Daily Health Check before coming to campus.
  • The Daily Health Check is still required for all individuals before entering the Health & Counseling Center.
  • As needed, faculty, staff, and visitors should complete the Vendor Daily Health Check and obtain a “GO” message before entering the HCC. If a “STOP” message is received, please contact your supervisor.

Campus COVID-19 signage:

  • We expect it will take until July 16 to remove or update all the campus signage related to COVID-19.
  • If you notice a sign that needs to be updated after that date, please let us know.

While we are encouraged by the progress that has been made in working toward the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reed’s COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group, along with local and state public health authorities, will continue to monitor the situation and may make changes to COVID-19 prevention measures as needed, particularly as we approach the fall 2021 semester. Additional updates to the COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan will be communicated by email and on our website. 

When will you hear from us next? Our next major update to the community will be on July 29, 2021. In the meantime, please reach out to the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group at coronavirusquestions@reed.edu or to one of the individual campus offices listed on the COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan.

With deep appreciation for your care for the health and well-being of our community,

COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group

PS We are working on updating the COVID-19 Prevention & Response Plan to reflect the changes stated above.

_________


COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group

Co-Chairs
Kathy Oleson, Dean of the Faculty & Professor of Psychology
Hugh Porter, Vice President for College Relations & Planning

Members
Cindy Anderson, Interim Dean of Students
Lorraine Arvin, Vice President and Treasurer
Gary Granger, Director of Community Safety
Mandy Heaton, Executive Director of Communications & Public Affairs
Karnell McConnell-Black, Vice President for Student Life
Madison Riethman, COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Health Project Manager
Suzy Renn, Professor of Biology
Timmie Rochon, Medical Services Director
April Sams, Director of Risk Management & Environmental Health and Safety